And -- oh, the evening light glinting off all those polished teeth! -- the guys from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" grabbing Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen for photo ops.

The 2003 MTV Video Music Awards had eye-poppingly incongruous moments behind the scenes -- like the two tennis stars at Radio City instead of Flushing Meadows -- even before Madonna stuck her tongue down Britney Spear's throat.

For starters, rapper Fabolouscq 'fessed up about why it's Tamia in the radio single and video for "Into You," which he first recorded with Glen Cove songstress Ashanti.

"Tamia's in it because Ashanti was coming out with a new album and we couldn't get her in the same place at the same time with me," Fabolous said.

How does Ashanti feel now that the song is a hit?

"She understood it was really because of her not being able to do it, so she's perfectly fine with it," the rapper said.

Lindsay Lohan of "Freaky Friday" fame revealed she was on the verge of signing a recording deal with a major music label.

"It's kind of like hip-hop rock," she said.

Singer Marsha Ambrosius, of the upbeat Brit hip-hop act Floetry, made a list of the things wrong with hip-hop in America.

"When hip-hop became a business here it affected what was allowed to be said," she said. "It's OK for people to create wealth and new markets, but when everyone wants to own it -- like 'It can only sound like this' -- then that's a problem.'"

Following close behind was Rocco DiSpirito, who was circumspect about being cited for minor health department violations at his 22nd Street eatery, which was the subject of reality show "The Restaurant."

"There were some violations that got exaggerated because we were on TV and I don't really care," he said. "I'm happy there's a city agency that's doing its job well."

Fashion savant Carson Kressley of "Queer Eye" argued that he and his castmates were not just gay stereotypes.

"We are five guys who are talented in our fields," he said. "Instead of calling that a stereotype, people should call us talented."

He was interrupted by design doctor Thom Filicia.

"If being a good cook or a good decorator is a stereotype, then label me!"

Kressley and Filicia said the Fab Five would soon start work on an illustrated makeover book. They just landed a $1 million advance from Random House.

And after that?

"We're going to be the first gays on the moon," Filicia said. "And it's going to be the most fabulous space station ever."